The Jammu and Kashmir government will hold negotiations Thursday with representatives of 450,000 employees to find a middle ground to end a bitter scrap between the two sides over salary arrears and retirement age.

Manipur government has decided not to pay arrears to government employees, who have been demanding payment of arrears since 2006 under provisions of sixth Central Pay Commission, official sources said Friday.

Nearly three lakh BSNL employees began their indefinite strike this morning to protest voluntary retirement and divestment proposals of the Sam Pitroda committee on turning around the state-owned telecom company.

More than 4.5 lakh Jammu and Kashmir government employees ended their 12-day strike Wednesday following assurances by CM Omar Abdullah that their demands on salary arrears and retirement age would be met within three months.

J&K govt employees continued their strike across the state for the fifth day Wednesday even as they decided to extend their stir till April 13 in view of "strict measures" being undertaken by the state government.

Undeterred by the Jammu and Kashmir
government slapping ESMA on them, employees continued their
strike across the state on Tuesday crippling work in government
departments and public sector undertakings.